Gurez Operation Enters Day 5

24 August 2011Rising Kashmir

Srinagar: The combing and search operation in Gurez sector, where 12 militants were killed while trying to sneak into this side through boats recently, entered 5th day on Wednesday. 'The combing and search operation continues in Gurez area,' defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel J S Brar told PTI. He said so far, 13 militants and one army officer have been killed in the gunbattles. “The first confrontation among a group of militants, entering into the Valley from across the line through boat, and army personnel took place on the night of August 19-20. Army killed 12 militants who were attempting to cross Kishenganga river in a boat,” he said. Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, from 15th Battalion of Maratha Light Infantry, was killed in the gunfight. Since then, Army has continued its operation in the area launching a manhunt for militants who might have succeeded in escaping the initial encounter. 'Post encounter, intensive search operations have been undertaken in the jungles in the vicinity of the encounter site,' the defense spokesman said. He said the 13th militant was killed yesterday during search operations near the vicinity of the August 20 encounter site. Brar said the militant fired indiscriminately at the soldiers, who returned the gunfire and killed the militant. The identity and group affiliation of the slain militants were being ascertained.